Health Careers Opportunity Program

College of Science and Mathematics

Inspirational Stories

Alumni

Dr. Linath Lim

As a child, Dr. Linath Lim grew up in Cambodia where she experienced severe poverty
and endured several social challenges. In 1982, Dr. Lim and her family traveled as
refugees to the Central Valley in hopes of pursuing a better life. Determined to
be the first in her family to graduate from college, Dr. Lim enrolled at California
State University, Fresno, where she became involved in HCOP.

“HCOP had provided me with guidance and the information necessary to help me achieve
my career goals,” she explains.

Dr. Lim became the first college graduate in her family and later added the initials
“M.D.” to her name. She is now an attending physician for the Family Health Care
Network at Kaweah Delta District Hospital in Visalia where she serves the uninsured,
indigent and underserved populations. Dr. Lim is recognized as the first Cambodian
doctor to become licensed and practice in Central California.

Dr. James Harris, Jr.

Dr. James Harris, Jr. became a father at the early age of 15 and was challenged with
the responsibility of caring for a family. Since infancy, Dr. Harris was raised by
his grandmother who worked perseveringly to provide him with the basic needs, support,
and a nurturing environment. While growing up, he watched his grandmother endure
multiple illnesses, and through these life-changing experiences, he developed a passion
for a career in health.

Following high school, Dr. Harris enrolled at Fresno State and became involved in
HCOP, which gave him the guidance, support and training necessary to overcome his
challenges. Over the course of his schooling, Harris worked 40-60 hours per week to
provide for his family. With the assistance of HCOP, he remained motivated and was
later accepted into the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California,
Los Angeles in 2003. Dr. Harris began his journey doing his residency training at
Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.

“I would like to return to Fresno to practice after I have completed my surgical training.
Unfortunately, there are not any surgical oncologists in Fresno who do some of the
more complicated cancer surgeries which I would like to specialize in. I hope to
bring that to Fresno,” he says.

Dr. José Arthur Mirelez, Jr.

At a young age, Dr. José Arthur Mirelez, Jr. was inspired by his grandfather to continue
his education and reach his full potential.

“My grandpa was a farmer and we were constantly in the fields doing hard labor. My
grandpa really taught me the importance of an education and wanted me to be the first
in the family to graduate from college,” Dr. Mirelez explains.

Dr. Mirelez’s journey to college began in 1994 at Fresno State. While attending college,
he became actively involved in HCOP and took advantage of multiple training and mentorship
opportunities.

In 1998, Dr. Mirelez graduated from Fresno State and went on to the University of
California, San Francisco where he received his doctorate in dental surgery in 2002.
Since then, he has established a successful dental practice in Fresno, where he serves
30-50 patients each day. Dr. Mirelez spends countless hours speaking to students about
career opportunities in dentistry and offers dental health screenings to local elementary
schools.

"I am very proud to give back to the community that I came from. It’s something very
special to my heart,” he says.

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